Actor Andro Chichinadze and comedian Onise Tskhadadze, who were arrested on charges of participating in group violence during recent protests, have responded to a statement made by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Speaking during a court hearing, Andro Chichinadze accused the Prime Minister of exerting pressure on the judiciary.

“When a high-ranking official comments during an ongoing trial in a way that undermines the presumption of innocence, it amounts to direct pressure on the court. Such remarks suggest a directive to deliver a guilty verdict. If someone is injured—regardless of whether they are a police officer—it is regrettable, and no one celebrates that. But if the supposed victims claim they didn’t see us, didn’t identify us, and have no complaints, how can justice be served? Meanwhile, those who attacked women while wearing police uniforms—why aren’t they here? This is selective justice,” Chichinadze said.

Comedian Onise Tskhadadze also addressed the court, referencing a separate trial where video evidence presented by the prosecution lacked audio.

“Kobakhidze, a lawyer by profession, clearly doesn’t understand the law. He claimed only 30 out of 1,000 people were arrested, as if our detention serves a preventive purpose. I asked the prosecutor—do you also think we’re being held for prevention? They claim I organized something—yet the video used as evidence had no sound. I thought I’d at least hear what I supposedly said, but there was nothing. A judge should’ve rejected such evidence outright,” Tskhadadze said.

Judge Nino Galustashvili interrupted Tskhadadze’s remarks and called the next witness.

Earlier, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated on Adjara Public Broadcaster: “Only 30 people out of approximately 1,000 have been detained. This reflects the high standard of investigation in Georgia. No one was arrested without indisputable evidence identifying a specific act of violence.”

11 individuals have been charged with participating in group violence during the protests near the Parliament. They are charged under Article 225, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a sentence of 4 to 6 years in prison.